New project - Chichen Itza

[nukebubba]

I have a lifelong friend who lives in Yankeeland, so I only see him rarely. Woody and his wife Barbara have been friends since we were teenagers, and he was the best man at my wedding. They have a timeshare in Cozumel, an island off the coat of the Yucatan in Mexico. They have invited us to share a week with them several times. One of those times we all piled into a tour bus and made a day trip to Chichen Itza, the Mayan ruins.

As a thank you gift, I have decided to make a nice burning of a photo I took while at Chichen Itza. The main feature is a pyramidal temple called "El Castillo" by the Spanish, although it is not a castle, but a temple to Kukulcan, the plumed serpent god. See the attached photo.

It was incredibly hot that day and I took advantage of a lull when all of the visitors left the frame of the picture, looking for shade or water I assume.

[nukebubba]

Re: New project - Chichen Itza

I used Photoshop to change the image to grayscale, then printed the picture on 8 1/2 by 11 paper to use as a pattern. I traced the pattern onto a piece of 1/8" baltic birch plywood that I had sanded smooth. I only traced the important edges, and I used an art gum eraser and sandpaper to remove as much of the tracing as I could, leaving a faint residual image. I then used drafting tape along all four edges to make a guide for a sharp, straight border about 3/8" wide.

I started working on the vertical stone wall at the left edge of the picture. This wall is part of the Temple of the Jaguar, and I included it to frame the rest of the picture. It was also providing me some shade while I took the picture.

To get the texture of weathered carved stone, i used the writing tip. I had the heat level set at 3.5 on my Colwood, and I used a random stipple to fill the area. I varied the size and darkness of the dots where the tip touched down by how long I left the tip in contact with the wood.

[hwallen48]

Re: New project - Chichen Itza

Can't wait to see it burned , bet it comes out Great!

[carver33]

Re: New project - Chichen Itza

Hey Vic,

Can't wait to see this one.

[Ron T]

Re: New project - Chichen Itza

Nice photo/subject. You and me both, Hal, can't wait.

[nukebubba]

Re: New project - Chichen Itza

Thanks for the encouraging words, everybody. I finished the stone wall of the Jaguar Temple that frames the subject on the left. See the attached photo. Judging from the tonal values in the photo, the pyramid is going to be the lightest part of the scene, and should contain the most unburned surface area. I need to think about what to do with the sky to make it contrast with the stone of the pyramid. I still am not able to achieve much uniformity with my shader tip. I guess I will have to use artistic license and add some clouds to the scene.

[Pol]

Re: New project - Chichen Itza

Looks really cool so far. The stone is great. I, too, can't wait to see what it looks like when you're done.

[[email protected]]

Re: New project - Chichen Itza

I like it and can't wait to see more of it, Good start.fred k

[WhittleBurner]

Re: New project - Chichen Itza

The rocks are coming out great, I'm sure you will be up to the challenge this one presaents.

[nukebubba]

Re: New project - Chichen Itza

I started to put in the pyramid. I used the shader tip set at heat level 1 on my Colwood to do most of the shading. The fine edge lines were done with the edge of the shader, and the dark door openings and shadow of the right side ramp were done with the writer tip. This kind of fine detail work takes a long time, so be patient with me, and thanks for the encouraging words. I have attached a new picture showing current status.

[nukebubba]

Re: New project - Chichen Itza

Sorry, folks. I know it has been a while since I posted anything. That is because I have been dealing with replacing a wrecked car, and it has kept me from working on the project. I have taken it up again. I have added the tree line on the right side horizon, and now I have started working some more of the rock walkway in the foreground, and the jaguar statue, also in the foreground, next to the vertical wall. I will post another picture when there is some more progress to show. Thanks to everyone for the encouragement.

About the car. My daughter borrowed our Honda Odyssey to go on a vacation trip to Maine with four adults and two dogs. While driving past Scranton, PA in a driving rainstorm, the sports car in front of her hit a big puddle, hydroplaned, and spun out of control, spinning into the driver side door of the Odyssey. Thank God nobody was hurt, but the car was a total. With the wrecked car in PA, the insurance company in TX, the family members in ME, and me in SC, it has taken forever to get everyone home safely, return rental car, get insurance inspections, etc.

[nukebubba]

Re: New project - Chichen Itza

Okay. I started working on it again while waiting for FedEx delivery. I have added the beginnings of the tree line at the horizon on the right, a statue in front of the pyramid, and I started working on the jaguar statue at lower left.

[Pol]

Re: New project - Chichen Itza

Looks great. Love the tree line. I'm glad everyone's okay regarding the wreck.

[jimmy joe]

Re: New project - Chichen Itza

Nice wip of your burning . Looks great . Glad all are safe . Looking forward to more pics !

[papasar]

Re: New project - Chichen Itza

OOPS!
Thought it said CHICKEN ITZA and I was looking for a new recipe. LOL
Your byrn looks great.
Bill K.